4. The Department for Transport will be consulting in 2018 on the next GWR franchise to run from 2020 or 2022, including service levels and patterns

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1 Southampton to Swindon passenger train corridor 2019 proposal * Through trains Southampton Airport to Chippenham and Swindon * Increased peak and near-peak train services from Swindon to Westbury * Through trains Swindon and Chippenham to Warminster and Salisbury * Much improved services at Melksham, Warminster and Dilton Marsh All done within currently planned rolling stock levels! SHORT REPORT What trains should run from January 2019? Southampton area to Salisbury Salisbury to Westbury Westbury to Swindon (see route map and single / double track layout) BACKGROUND 1. South Western Railways (SWR) are consulting at present about their Southampton to Salisbury and Salisbury to Westbury services. 2. Great Western Railway (GWR) are re-working their timetables because of major timetable changes on connecting routes and modified requirements in their franchise SLC (service level commitment) from that date 3. SWR are charged with exploring future options along this corridor 4. The Department for Transport will be consulting in 2018 on the next GWR franchise to run from 2020 or 2022, including service levels and patterns CURRENT SERVICES * See also final page for late breaking news 1. An hourly secondary main line train service runs through most of the route - from Portsmouth to Cardiff, taking in the major stations on the Southampton Central to Trowbridge section of this route. GWR 2. An hourly Salisbury to Southampton Central / Airport / Eastleigh / Romsey. This service calls at all stations. A train waits at Salisbury for 40 minutes in every hour. SWR 3. A service of 9 train each way per day runs between Swindon and Westbury at irregular intervals (maximum gap 2.5 hours). This was a new service for 2014 and has outperformed all official estimates, with predicted further growth. GWR 4. The Westbury to Salisbury local section is served by a variety of trains. Some are part of useful occasional long distance services (such as Waterloo to Bristol and Brighton to Great Malvern), but others are local gap-fillers to meet (for example) the minimum interval requirement of the SLC for Dilton Marsh and carry few passengers because they don't go anywhere useful. GWR / SWR THE COMMUNITY AND ITS ROLE 1. The Southampton to Salisbury section has a Community Rail Partnership (Three Rivers) who assist with the promotion and development of that section. 2. The Westbury to Swindon section has a Community Rail Partnership (TransWilts) who assist with the promotion and development of that section. 3. TransWilts also has an umbrella interest in the Westbury to Salisbury service, and the proposed / planned station at Wilton on that section. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 1 of 15

2 South Western Railways and Great Western Railway are different franchises and need to be mindful of competition law as they discuss co-ordinated services, but the Community Rail Partnerships each works within its own area, talking in detail to the other, and are not bound by such concerns. So they can (and are willing) to assist in the brokering and implementation of a modified service pattern which works well for the passenger... and SWR, and GWR, and the DfT. 4. Both TransWilts and Three Rivers, and associated groups, have passenger, community, local government and operational staff contacts to help inform us on aspirations - in other words to alert us to potential travel flows not fully served at present. PROPOSAL Retain the Cardiff to Portsmouth trains in the current general pattern. 2. Retain / operate the Southampton area to Salisbury service as proposed for consultation by SWR, but extend every alternate train from Salisbury to Swindon. The returning train (2 hours ahead) from Swindon will pick up the return service from Salisbury to the Southampton area 3. Withdraw the gap-filling local trains between Westbury and Warminster / Salisbury. In most cases, a near equivalent is provided by the Southampton to Swindon train. 4. Complete the requirements of the passenger flows and SLCs by running four extra round trips per day to Swindon from Warminster or Salisbury, using the train that's required in any case to meet the TransWilts SLC. Unit presently on the Stroud Valley part of the day. Net results - saving of "south of Westbury" stock, yet better services around Westbury - regular services Swindon, Chippenham to Warminster, Salisbury, Southampton, and Airport - regular services Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster to Southampton Airport and Eastleigh - no need to run Westbury to Warminster locals to meet SLC for Dilton Marsh - fewer platform-consuming reversals at Westbury PROPOSAL - during next GWR franchise period Extend all the Southampton area to Salisbury services to Swindon making the service hourly throughout. This requires EITHER a) An additional pathing allowance of 9 minutes each way spread between Eastleigh and Trowbridge to ensure that trains do not pass on the single track section AND two extra trains above the 2019 proposal (which you will note saves one train / two if you include the Brighton) OR b) A passing loop at Melksham to allow passenger trains to pass. In this case, no pathing allowance is required, and only one extra set (not two) is required above the 2019 proposal NEXT STEPS We propose that SWR and GWR work with Three Rivers and TransWilts to refine and implement the 2019 proposal outlined above and detailed in the following document, for the mutual benefit of all parties We propose that this work considers the possibility of either alternative for the next franchise period. Wiltshire Council is currently supporting a study with Network Rail, Train Operators and consultants to review pathing and capacity options between Westbury and Swindon. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 2 of 15

3 Consultation response - for 2019 timetables Concerning services from the Southampton area to Salisbury and from Salisbury to Westbury and beyond Headline is this an opportunity to provide a better service while reducing resources needed? This consultation will close on 22nd December South Western Railway will be making some major changes to train services in the December 2018 timetable. We invite you to review the proposals for your area and provide any comments you may have via to timetable.feedback@swrailway.com Reference: Suggestion * Run the Salisbury to Romsey service via Southampton to the proposed 2019 timetable - Could small adjustments be made to make it truly clockface? * Extend every alternate train on from Salisbury to Swindon via Westbury, calling all Stations - next southbound service from Salisbury formed of incoming unit from Swindon - requires one extra unit (4 rather than 3); extra unit can be the one that's been on daily hire to GWR -> With this extension, a 2-hourly service is provided from Swindon to Salisbury -> Service provided surpasses GWR's SLC for Dilton Marsh, superceding local WSB-WMN trains Swindon to Westbury SLC cannot be delivered with just one train; 2 used in GWR's draft timetable * Second train to provide 4 journeys to / from Swindon per day, giving extra peak coverage and more regular SAL - WSB trains * GWR local trains (apart for the Brightons and services above) withdrawn south of Westbury -> Stock saving for GWR; SWI - SOA+ services typically at similar times and much more useful -> One exception - early morning local Warminster to BPW and evening return stay -> More GWR southbound trains terminating at Westbury; opportunities for Frome (etc?) extensions * We support the SWR trains in table 160 that run via Westbury -> We are particularly pleased with the Dilton Marsh stops (can the rest call there?) -> Consultation asks about early Sunday morning train SAL to BRI then BRI to WAT. Yes please; first SAL to BRI is currently 10:25. An 09:25 would be welcome and well used. Notes: a) Dilton Marsh service becomes useful for passengers to Salisbury and Swindon in both directions, and much more so for Bath and Bristol commuters too. It's an overshadowed station and its past "curious and perverse" service, compounded by its closeness to Westbury, has stunted its use. With a growing residential area around (circa 8,000 in very easy walking distance as their closest station) and with much improved services calling, we would anticipate passenger grown similar to we have seen at Melksham in the last few years, though the growth won't keep on going in the same way. Full analysis to be done of the point at which it would level; very timetable dependent! b) This document makes use of SWR consultation proposals and early indications from GWR for Some assumptions are made, and it's noted that some paths are being requested for use by both GWR and SWR trains, so that something will have to be changed. Similarly, details of Chippenham - Swindon services that need to be interlaced are not (yet?) in our possession. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 3 of 15

4 c) The fourth train in the Southampton area to Swindon via Salisbury mix is show as originating at either Salisbury or Westbury and ending up there at the end of the day. Which company provides the train, which operates it, and whose franchise SLCs it meets is something to be discussed; TransWilts and Three Rivers (the CRPs at each end of the service) would be happy to help oil any wheels should that be useful. d) This suggestion for 2019 uses five trains, replacing rather more than that (lots of odd segments!) in current timetables - so it's a notable efficiency increase. It increase services between Swindon and Westbury from 9 to 13 per day, eliminating all intervals of over 2 hours and filling real gaps in current service where there is known latent demand. e) The logical goal is an hourly service all the way; with single line sections through both Chandler's Ford and Melksham, and the need for a quick turn around at Romsey, that hourly service is only achievable by adding pathing allowances into the timetable, and means that the number of diagrams would increase from 5 to 7, until (or if) capacity is added between Bradford and Thingley Junctions. That would also add a significant layover in the bay platform at Swindon - indeed, sufficient time (when added together) for a local Oxford - Didcot shuttle to extend to around Wantage Road in its slack time, passing a Southampton train in the opposite direction. In other words, going up from 5 to 7 units (which isn't far off what's there at the moment) also buys into the Swindon to Oxford flow. f) At present, Brighton services have been left untouched in the data; there is some logic to ask whether the daily train from the Bristol area to Brighton (and two the other way) are best use of resource now that many of their historic reasons (calls at Dean, Dunbridge, Dilton Marsh, Freshford, Avoncliff, Oldfield Park and Keynsham) have been enhanced from elsewhere. There is a good argument for a through Brighton service at the weekend, and it's noted that these services already run with a greater frequency on Saturday and Sunday. g) Saturday proposal - no draft SWR timetable; best thought is "as Monday to Friday but with peaks in daytime pattern". For Sunday, as per Saturday but starting an hour or two later? Note also Brighton services at weekend and perhaps their could be linkage? h) The proposal uses 26 paths between Bradford Junction and Thingley Junction. At times of engineering, a much higher frequency has run on this line - for example 53 were scheduled on Saturday 25th November 2017, with 38 of those over the 12 hour period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. More paths are used at commuter peak times in the proposal than during the middle of the day or in the evening. We would anticipate that freight timetables may in any case need extensive updating across the Western area of Network Rail to allow for the modified timetables of class 800 and 802 trains. Documentation: a) SWR consultation timetable for 2019 (158A), showing suggestions for SWR (dark blue grey) and GWR (Green). Where a train is shown as spending 160 minutes in Salisbury and dropping back, that's a Swindon trip. b) Correlated timetables from SWR (table 160) and GWR (based on suggested data we have) between Salisbury and Westbury. At the base, you'll find a number of services marked GWR-X which are to be withdrawn - for the most part replaced by new services running between Southampton area and Swindon c) Suggestion of timings of trains between Swindon and Westbury (Swindon and Trowbridge time shown). Although the single line from Bradford Junction to Thingley junction precludes an hourly extension of the Romsey Six service to Swindon without adding in pathing delay times, a two-hourly service leaves significant gaps for a strengthening of the service up to and beyond current levels with a single train - so total trains in use on the Romsey Six, TransWilts (and extra local provision between them) is 5, versus 6 and a bit if the services are not linked. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 4 of 15

5 Document A Modified workings for proposed table 158A showing onward trains to Swindon Grey / Blue current SWR Three Rivers train. Green GWR train (the hire in unit?) Services shown with 160 minutes at Salisbury make a trip to Swindon and back in that time. Services shown with 40 minutes at Salisbury could make a trip to Wilton at a future date. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 5 of 15

6 Document B Combined Salisbury to Westbury proposals A - in the Dilton Marsh time is an assumed stop based on current timetables A : represents an actual time proposed by SWR or by the ideas of this document Station codes with a + indicate trains that may continue further Services GWR-X to be WITHDRAWN in this proposal except where noted * (a) and * (b) both GWR and SWR appear to be asking for the same paths here!! Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 6 of 15

7 See previous page for notes Unit release south of WSB - ( GWR-X ) 05:24 to 06:40 07:00 to 09:36 10:08 to 13:40 (currently arrives WSB at 09:32) 15:11 to 15:39 17:11 to 17:39 (currently arrives WSB at 16:31) 19:41 to 22:23 and there is slack on those which start from Westbury as shown. A Brighton unit is south of Westbury Until 11:39 13:32 to 19:39 Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 7 of 15

8 Document C Through trains to and from Swindon via Melksham Diagram showing pathing availability between 2-hourly full route trains Open paths for other services: 23:18 to 05:59 (20 paths) 06:18 to 06:59 (2 paths) 07:39 to 07:59 (1 path) 08:40 to 08:59 (1 path) 10:41 to 11:00 (1 path) 11:18 to 11:59 (2 paths) 12:18 to 12:59 (2 paths) 13:28 to 13:59 (2 paths) 16:17 to 16:37 (1 path) 18:18 to 18:59 (2 paths) 19:18 to 19:59 (2 paths) 20:18 to 20:59 (2 paths) 21:18 to 21:59 (2 paths) 22:18 to 22:59 (2 paths) Note extra allowance at Westbury on up journey on this chart on through trains to add robustness and pathing optimisation. Southbound trains also have a couple of minutes stop at Salisbury for similar reasons. Enough slack with 90 m.p.h. stock to allow future stop at Wilton Station. Connections often available for onward journeys off trains that terminate at Warminster and Salisbury to Southampton Central and Airport. Not shown for clarity of planning; would be included in any public timetable. FOLLOWING PAGES are our vision of the possible following stage analysis awaited to see whether extra paths are available on the Bradford Junction to Thingley Junction section. Should capacity enhancement be needed on that section, we suggest that the enhancement be tuned to fit the requirements of the hourly train service, which could then be speeded up and a unit saved. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 8 of 15

9 Consultation response for LATER phase when full line capacity established Swindon - Westbury (TransWilts) with some extensions + Westbury to Salisbury + Salisbury Southampton stations and Eastleigh (Three Rivers) Westbury to Salisbury with intermediate stations at Dilton Marsh and Warminster is the only part of the Cardiff to Portsmouth main line which does not have at least a regular (second) local train in the hour to serve intermediate stations. WARMINSTER is currently served by the hourly trains from Cardiff to Portsmouth (less frequent and later start on Sunday morning), a handful of services to and from London (Waterloo) that carry on to Bristol or Yeovil, and a handful of local train between there are Westbury, some extending to Bristol. A couple of other trains call too there's a daily train to Brighton, and two trains from Swindon but nothing direct going back to Swindon. Warminster is a town of 20,000 with a strong military presence and also significant commuter and educational flows. DILTON MARSH is served by a curious and perverse selection of the trains that also serve Warminster. The handful of local trains between Westbury and Warminster call there, as do some of the other one-offs, with a few Cardiff Portsmouth services also calling at the extremes of the day in order to meet minimum service specs. Dilton Marsh has a population of around 2,000; the station is between the village and new residential development at Westbury Leigh. Westbury Leigh is generally considered as separate to Westbury itself, though it has become contiguous with the town. Estimate 5,000 Westbury area residents have a shorter walk to Dilton Marsh Station than to Westbury, but few use it due to the lack of flexible commute options to any one destination - If you can get there, you can't get back! Most Train services are provided by GWR who are revising their timetables from the end of 2018 due to changes of main line rolling stock which will speed up trains and change calling times at Westbury, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath and Bristol. No detail has been published on these changes yet, but now is a good time for the community to tell GWR how they want connections to work. SWR provide the London Waterloo services to Bristol and Yeovil via Salisbury and Westbury; it's a new franchise and they have a public consultation underway for their Monday to Friday service from the end of There are a total of 17 trains (10 one way, 7 the other) via Warminster, of which (new to this proposal) 11 call at Dilton Marsh. As part of their new franchise, SWR are required to analyse and recommend service updates along several corridors, including Southampton to Swindon. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 9 of 15

10 The current GW franchise runs to 2019 and the Department for Transport are consulting into 2018 on what's to come next. That includes service patterns & frequencies from Here is the combined timetable proposed by SWR and GWR for Mondays to Fridays for 2019 Southbound Northbound Readers will note that there are some conflicts between SWR trains and GWR trains as these two proposals have been drawn up separately. As the First group holds 100% of the GWR franchise and 70% of the SWR franchise, they are under the watchful eye of the Competition and Markets Authority, whose role it is to enforce anti-cartel laws with a view to ensuring that markets are not carved up by dominant players to the exclusion of other would-be entrants. At TransWilts, we know of no other operators proposing to run scheduled passenger trains between Westbury and Salisbury, though we are aware of aspirations by the Go-op cooperative to run services from west of Westbury and thence via Swindon. First Bus also run a parallel bus service from Salisbury to Bath via Warminster and Westbury which could be of potential concern to the CMA. The Three Rivers, TransWilts and Heart of Wessex Community Rail Partnerships do not compete; each covers separate services and stations and in each case their objectives and constitution are community interest and development rather than profit. As such they can partner for their various communities with it being unlikely that the CMA would be interested. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 10 of 15

11 So A question and suggestion what would we like to see in a future service? Maintenance of an hourly Cardiff to Portsmouth service Maintenance of through services to / from London (Waterloo) An intermediate service within each hour to give through half hourly Warminster trains A regular service calling at Dilton Marsh offering round trip journeys Services to be reliable, efficient run all day 7 days a week, and have good capacity Services to be designed to draw strong use to make them economically sustainable By linking up 1. The Three Rivers service from the Southampton area (Eastleigh, Southampton Airport, Southampton Central and Romsey to Salisbury) 2. The TransWilts service from Swindon to Westbury 3. Other services south of Westbury from GWR into an hourly Swindon to Southampton area service, the above objectives could be achieved with little net effect on resources requirement. More detailed timetabling outlines for this service are on following pages. Southbound Northbound Note TW3R are services shared between GWR and SWR similar to shared services to make a complete pattern from Chester to Holyhead and on Cornish main line. These changes would enable current off peak Bristol area to Westbury/Warminster terminators to divert to Frome and perhaps beyond to overcome gaps in service there. An extra peak service remains to and from Warminster from and to Bristol, also serving Dilton Marsh. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 11 of 15

12 Possible option for Southampton Salisbury Swindon - Oxford Looking forward for the next 10 years on the TransWilts... suggesting where services might be going. At this stage, just an experiment looking at how some suggestions start turning into a timetable. Comment / constructive suggestions welcome. * Join existing or required local services * Using 90 m.p.h. d.m.u. stock such as class 158, 165, 166 (would also work 17x) * Timed in isolation as virtually every service interaction will be retimetabled by 2020 * Timed for robustness and through service not speed * Schedule allowed for and shown includes ability to stop at new stations but business case does not require them * Clockface Services incorporated: * Romsey - Southampton loop - Romsey - Salisbury (Three Rivers) * Salisbury - Westbury (locals) * Westbury - Swindon (current TransWilts) * Swindon - Didcot (new leg) * Didcot - Oxford (local service) 7 train sets required. * 3 from Three Rivers * 1 from TransWilts (day) * 1 from Oxford - Didcot locals * 1 from "South of Westbury" locals * 1 from TransWilts to Stroud Valley feeder - All could be SAL based / 2 day and one 3 day diagrams Some new traffic opportunities addressed from service start * Swindon to Oxford - through service * Oxford to Salisbury - through service * Swindon to Southampton Airport - through service * Swindon to Salisbury - through service * Dilton Marsh / practical service - Enabler for new stations listed in future Issues that may break clockface * Pathing and flow volume north of Didcot - Appleford and Culham limited stop? * First and last trains south from Salisbury depot may go direct SAL - ROM - ESL Infrastructure * Works on current setup but potential lack of robustness. * Can a train reverse at Oxford without shunting? Addendum: Yes currently only platform 3. Platform 4 also after resignalling.] 5 minutes needed, 8 allowed. Note 3 minutes over minimum for Didcot reversals. * Suggest platform 0 at Westbury (prefab extension out to current set back track) for robustness * Suggest loop at Broughton Gifford or Melksham for robustness and as freight layby Enabler for: * Wilton Parkway * Wantage Grove * Royal Wootton Bassett * Nursling Based on working paper / GE / October 2017 Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 12 of 15

13 Diagram 1 06:27 (Swindon) to 09:04 (Romsey) 09:07 (Romsey) to 12:32 (Oxford) 12:40 (Oxford) to 16:04 (Romsey) 16:07 (Romsey) to 19:32 (Oxford) 19:40 (Oxford) to 23:04 (Romsey) 23:07 (Romsey) to 00:17 (Salisbury) Diagram 2 06:40 (Oxford) to 10:04 (Romsey) 10:07 (Romsey) to 13:32 (Oxford) 13:40 (Oxford) to 17:04 (Romsey) 17:07 (Romsey) to 20:32 (Oxford) 20:40 (Oxford) to 00:04 (Romsey) 00:07 (Romsey) to 01:17 (Salisbury) Diagram 3 05:57 (Westbury) to 07:32 (Oxford) 07:40 (Oxford) to 11:04 (Romsey) 11:07 (Romsey) to 14:32 (Oxford) 14:40 (Oxford) to 18:04 (Romsey) 18:07 (Romsey) to 21:32 (Oxford) 21:40 (Oxford) to 23:51 (Salisbury) Diagram 4 06:20 (Salisbury) to 08:32 (Oxford) 08:40 (Oxford) to 12:04 (Romsey) 12:07 (Romsey) to 15:32 (Oxford) 15:40 (Oxford) to 19:04 (Romsey) 19:07 (Romsey) to 22:32 (Oxford) 22:40 (Oxford) to 00:13 (Westbury) Diagram 5 04:54 (Salisbury) to 06:04 (Romsey) 06:07 (Romsey) to 09:32 (Oxford) 09:40 (Oxford) to 13:04 (Romsey) 13:07 (Romsey) to 16:32 (Oxford) 16:40 (Oxford) to 20:04 (Romsey) 20:07 (Romsey) to 22:44 (Swindon) Diagram 6 05:54 (Salisbury) to 07:04 (Romsey) 07:07 (Romsey) to 10:32 (Oxford) 10:40 (Oxford) to 14:04 (Romsey) 14:07 (Romsey) to 17:32 (Oxford) 17:40 (Oxford) to 21:04 (Romsey) 21:07 (Romsey) to 00:32 (Oxford) Diagram 7 06:17 (Westbury) to 08:04 (Romsey) 08:07 (Romsey) to 11:32 (Oxford) 11:40 (Oxford) to 15:04 (Romsey) 15:07 (Romsey) to 18:32 (Oxford) 18:40 (Oxford) to 22:04 (Romsey) 22:07 (Romsey) to 23:53 (Westbury) Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 13 of 15

14 Regular Pattern option Romsey to Oxford via Salisbury, Westbury and Swindon Note Oxford extensions show here are optional. They would be a very efficient way to tap into an identified market using stock which is left underutilised at Swindon if trains cannot pass at Melksham. Based on current rather than proposed 2019 timetable from Salisbury to Romsey via Southampton; only varied by a couple of minutes in the SWR consultation. Service patterns retains paths of current service through the Southampton area Service pattern suitable for updating to run the Romsey loop in the opposite direction for possible extension to and beyond Totton. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 14 of 15

15 Appendix updates 10 th December 2017 The above report was prepared during October and November 2017 as a community and CRP response to the SWR timetable consultation and for input to other parties. Further recent news serves to make the case even more compelling. Reconsulting with all of our contacts over a few days is impractical, so this appendix has been added to include reference to that late news and how it effects the cases presented for 2019, and for subsequent updates thereafter. 1. As from January 2018, day return fares will be offered from Swindon and Chippenham to Salisbury and Southampton. This includes an extension of the Swindon and Chippenham (via Melksham) fares which currently are available as far from Swindon as Warminster. Helps join up passenger flows / build business across the three linked services. 2. There are early Sunday morning improvements of Westbury to Swindon service (from 10 th December 2017) and from Warminster to Westbury (from 7 th January 2018). Building up of linked services towards every 2 hours of the first stage proposal. 3. From January 2018, the Westbury to Swindon Shuttle train becomes a 2 car train rather than 1, and a few months later it becomes a 90 m.p.h. Unit. The fourth train for the 2 hourly pattern is then of a similar specification to allow logical interworking without too much or too little capacity anywhere on the journey. 4. October 2017 survey data (WS Atkins / Wiltshire Council / TransWilts) and ticket data confirms existing journeys from north of Trowbridge to the Southampton area. Further Current confirmation that passenger demand exists on the corridor. 5. ORR ticket data station by station shows 23% growth at Melksham and 9% growth at Dilton Marsh in year to April 2017 (data released 1 st December). These are the highest growth rates for any Wiltshire Stations again this year. Further confirmation of growth on the corridor. 6. Melksham (supported) Town Bus tenders are for routes updated to (now) include some journeys via Melksham Station. These are for three years with optional 2 year extensions. Confirmation of faith in growth of service and a real opportunity to develop traffic and bed in. 7. The Melksham Rail User Group won the annual national marketing award from RailFuture at their conference in November. TransWilts won the ACoRP national marketing award the previous year. Confirmation of effective community support for the line and services run on it. 8. The current GWR franchise has been extended (for definite) by a year and subject to DfT / GWR agreement will be extended by a further period of 2 or 4 years. This provides a stability in which to bed in and profit from a joint through Swindon to Southampton service. 9. Salisbury has been added to the GWR Tiger information system. We can now provide through information / short URLs 10. We are doing some limited additional analysis on travel data with regard to connections and the economic case / benefit brought about by quicker journeys, together with the reduction of flow leakage where passengers are required to change. Initial work indicates economic benefit even on just the airport flow of over 200k per annum. 11. Wiltshire Council have invited TransWilts to participate in the working meeting between all parties on the corridor development on 21 st December based on capacity work being undertaken and prior to SWR reporting back on the corridor to DfT first report due We're all working together on this! Each of these updates is 'breaking news'. Please ask / check with us for the new year for technical details. Version 1.1 / TransWilts / GE Solent to Swindon 2019 and later corridor proposal Page 15 of 15